Edward l



No Model.)

B. L. GOSSE.

STRINGING DEVICE FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

No. 542,157. Patented Ju @gmilm Z i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDIVARD Ii. GOSSE, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, ASSIG-NOR OF ONE-HALF TOI.. A. LAUGHLIN, OF SAME PLACE.

STRINGING DEVICE FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 5I2,157, dated July 2,1895.

Application filed May 17, 1894. Serial No. 511,625. (No model.)

To [6 whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD L. GOSSE, of Kansas City, county of Jackson,State of Missouri, have, invented certain new and useful Improvements inStringing Devices for Musical Instruments, of which the following, is aspecification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention comprehends improvements in stringing devices for the classof musical instruments represented, for example, by guitars, mandolins,and the like, and it has for its object to provide secure and certainmeans for fastening the strings to the headpiece of the instrument,whereby the strings may be fastened or unfastened more expeditiouslythan is possible with the old methods of stringing, and when in placeall danger of Slipping is obviated.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure I is a side elevation of ahead-piece of a mandolin with my device attached. Fig. II is a centralvertical section of my improved device, and Fig. III a section taken atright angles thereto. Fig. IV shows a modified form of clampingjaws, andFig. V shows another modification of the same.

Referring to the figures on the drawings, 1 indicates the head-piece ofa mandolin, which is taken asan illustrative example of any musicalinstrument of its class.

2 indicates the usual tuning-pin plate secured thereto and adapted tocarry the assembled tuning mechanism.

3 indicates the ordinary worm-screw carried.

in journal-bearings 4., and designed to be rolated by a thumb-piece 5.The worm-screw meshes with the worm-pinion 6 of a tuning-' pin 7.

It is in the tuning-pin proper that my improvements are to be found, andthe description and illustration of the foregoing parts are presentedfor the purpose of explanation. The tuning-pin is in its lower part 8,at least, preferably tubular, and is externally screwthreaded, asindicated at 9, to receive a limiting-nut 10. The nut 10 is provided atits outer end with an interior annular flange 11, that is designed toconfine a movable clamping-jaw 12. This clamping-jaw is preferably madeof well-tempered steel, and extending diametrically entirely acrossthepin is revolubly fixed, but longitudinally movable, within a transversekerf 13 in the end of the pin. It is designed to clamp against a fixedjaw 14, also preferably made of steel, and extending entirely across thepin. By reason of the extent of the jaws a broad clamping surfacebetween them is provided, thereby facilitating their grip upon astringof the instrument without danger of breaking or cutting it. IVith thedifferent kinds of strings employed different forms of opposite clampingedges upon the jaws may be employed. For example, corrugations 15, asshown in Figs. I and III, may be used, or in place thereof the smoothedges shown in Fig. IV, or the correlatively undulating edges shown inFig.

V may be employed.

In addition to the mechanism described, suitable jaw-actuating mechanismmust be employed. A preferable form of mechanism consists of a screw 16,having a bulbous nil) 17, that is adapted to laterally enter and freelyrevolve within a recess 18 of the movable jaw 12, but whose separationtherefrom lengthwise of the screw is prevented by oppositelyextendinglugs 19, which close in behind the bulbous head and unite the movablejaw to the screw. The screw operates within inter- 8o nal threads 21 inthe nut 10, and by its movement causes the movable jaw to work asrequired within its kerf 13. The screw 16 is provided with a suitablehead 22 for operating it, the head being susceptible of great varietiesof ornamentation.

I am aware that it is not broadly new to employ a movable clamp within atuning-pin for retaining a string. I am not aware, however, that themechanism which embodies the go practical features of my device is old,and

\Vhat I therefore claim is- 1. The combination with a tuning pin, of alongitudinal kerf in the pin, a fixed jaw in the bottom thereofextending diametrically 5 across the pin, a coextensive movable jawoperating within the kerf, and actuating mechanism connected with themovable jaw to operate it in both directions, substantially asspecified.

2. The combination with a tuning pin, of a kerf in the end of the pin, afixed jaw in the ICC bottom of the kerf, a movable jaw working in thekerf, a limiting nut fastened to the end i of the pin, and limiting themovement of the movable jaw, and mechanism for actuating the movable jawin both directions, substantially as specified 3. The combination with atuning pin, a kerf in the end thereof and a fixed jaw in the bottom ofthe kert, of a movable jaw working within the kerf an exterior nut having an internal limiting flange upon the end of the pin, and actuatingmechanism connected with the movable jaw to operateit in bothdirections, substantially as specified.

4. The combination with a tuning pin, a

kerf in the end of the pin, and a fixed jaw in the bottom thereof, of alimiting nut on the 7 end of the pin, a movable jaw working in the kerf,a bulbous headed screw screwing into the nut, a recess in the movablejaw adapted to receive the bulbous end of the screw, and oppositelyprojecting lugs adapted to rotatably secure the bulbous head to themovable jaw, substantially as set forth.

\ In testimony of all which I have hereunto subscribed my name.

EDWARD L. GOSSE.

Witnesses:

MosEs H. LIVINGSTON, GRANT H. AUSTIN.

